Trots to temporarily leave Horsham under Harness Racing Victoria's region-based model

Harness Racing Victoria has released a new region-based calendar designed to limit travel for participants and help curb the spread of COVID-19.

The new racing model will see Victoria divided into six regions, with meetings conducted at nine tracks - Inner West (Melton and Ballarat), West (Terang and Stawell), East (Kilmore and Cranbourne), North West (Mildura), Central (Bendigo) and North East (Shepparton).

Every Victorian participant has been assigned a region in which they will compete.

Wimmera competitors have been assigned to West region, and will race at either Terang or Stawell.

Due to the move, all calendar feature events will be cancelled, with the new-look schedule to start from Thursday.

What this means for next month's Horsham Pacing Cup is still unknown.

"This model allows us to keep essential personnel and participants at race meetings. It also provides us the best opportunity to continue conducting race meetings," Harness Racing Victoria chief executive Dayle Brown said.

"The support we have received through regular and thorough consultation with our industry representative bodies during this challenging period has been really important and I thank them."

Coronavirus' effect on sports:

Trots Club Victoria president Tim Scala supported the regional model.

"We want to survive as an industry and come out the other side of this," he said.

"It will mean that some clubs will have their racing transferred to another track or region, but we need to be happy that there will still be clubs operating."

Speaking on behalf of the owners' representative body, Rob Auber said he backed the move.

"HRV has to make some tough decisions to maintain the continuity of racing. Immediately moving to a regional model gives this sport the best chance to succeed," he said. "We understand that this will affect different participants in different ways, but whatever can be done to keep our people safe, healthy and earning a livelihood must be supported."

The revamped calendar (which is subject to change and additional meetings) is outlined below.

Monday, March 30: Cranbourne day

Tuesday, March 31: Bendigo night

Wednesday, April 1: Stawell day, Shepparton night

Thursday, April 2: Ballarat day, Mildura night

Friday, April 3: Kilmore day, Bendigo night

Saturday, April 4: Melton night

Sunday, April 5: Cranbourne twilight

Monday, April 6: Shepparton day

Tuesday, April 7: Terang night

Wednesday, April 8: Kilmore day, Mildura night

Thursday, April 9: Melton day, Bendigo night

Saturday, April 11: Melton night

Sunday, April 12: Shepparton night

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